The first thing I was aware of when I woke up were the handcuffs pinning my hands above my head. Tugging on them did nothing more than make them rattle loudly. I opened my eyes and saw the infirmary around me, which explained the handcuffs, at least; anyone that gets injured is brought straight to the infirmary, and restrained. If in doubt, tie the fucker up.

Letting out a long sigh, I relaxed back into the thin mattress underneath me as much as I could.

The pain was beginning to make itself known, and the last thing I wanted to do was go fucking mental – for a change. All I wanted was a hit to make it all go away. I stared up at the ceiling, trying not to think about it, but suddenly it was the only thing on my mind.

I couldn’t believe I’d managed to fall off the fucking wall. What kind of idiot falls off the wall?

Closing my eyes, I tried to remember what had happened.

“Luca?" Eloise's voice derailed that train of thought before it had even really gotten going.

I opened my eyes again and smiled up at her. She bent down and wrapped her arms carefully around my shoulders.

"Cammy," Alicia hugged my arm. Eloise had buried her head in the crook of my neck. She inhaled deeply before pulling back and sitting carefully on the edge of the bed.

"How long was I out?"

"Since you fell last night."

"I was out all night?" I asked, irritated that I'd missed the rest of the fight. "Guess this means the camp wasn't over run though," I half smiled. I kind of wanted to be on the run again. I missed the adrenaline and the constant bloody battle to survive and sleeping rough. I missed Rayn and the drugs and the good times we had with Joe before Rayn died. She nodded, brushing hair out of my face.

"I wish I could look after you at home," she mumbled, still absently stroking my hair.

"I dunno, I'm surprised you're not glad to have a break from me," I chuckled, turning my head to Alicia, who was still clinging onto my arm. "You doing okay?" She nodded, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Careful you don't hurt him, sweetie," Eloise said.

"M'not gonna," Alicia mumbled into my shirt.

Eloise pouted, "I don't want to wait three days to take you home. We already know you're not gonna turn."

"Adam's a stickler for enforcing rules, you know that. I'm only here still because of you and Joe."

"You and Joe never speak anymore," Eloise sighed, "you guys used to be so close.""Only because we had to be to survive, I guess," I stopped myself shrugging before I ended up hurting my ribs anymore.

"I'll get him to come visit," she smiled.

True to her word, two days later, Joe shuffled in looking really fucking reluctant. "Hello," he muttered.

I looked up at him. I was fiddling with the edge of the blanket they'd put under me. It was my last day in the infirmary; they'd only just let me out of the handcuffs and fuck me did my shoulders ache.

This awkward silence sat between us and I looked back at the bit of blanket I was fiddling with.

"How are you feeling?"

I gave him a half shrug, ignoring the bruises on my ribs, "my ankle's broken. I'm not gonna be doing anything that involves standing up for fucking ages now."

"Well, just be thankful that's all it is," he was shuffling around looking all uncomfortable. "Is Alicia safe?"

"Yeah. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, Cancer. I'm glad you're alright."

"It's been ages since we talked," I said, not sure else how to break the awkwardness.

"Yeah, well..." he trailed off, sitting down in the chair nearest to my bed. "What happened out there anyway? Before you came back?"

Story summary

The sequel to NaNo Zombies. The previous story saw Joe and Luca, unlikely allies, thrown together as a deadly virus turned the majority of the human population into flesh eating corpses. A friendship has formed and things are beginning to look up for both of them as they discover a sanctuary in Riverton, Wyoming. Reunited with familiar faces, will their small band of survivors live long enough to see the world face the aftermath of the apocalypse?

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